We’re in the middle of spring, and nothing beats watching everything come back to life. The flowers are blooming, the trees are sprouting leaves, and the birds are chirping. Here at Eastlake, you can see grass throughout the town become greener and greener. But how long will it stay green? In order to maintain that perfect-looking lawn, you should prepare it for the hotter summer months that await us in the next couple of months. In this blog, we are going to give you five ways in which you can prepare your lawn for the summer.

Lawn infographic.

Aerate Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn before summer is essential because it allows water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate your grassroots more efficiently. Aerating is this important because it leads to a healthy root system that helps keep your lawn healthy and lush.

It is important to note that it’s best to perform this process in the autumn if your lawn is a cool-season grass, like bluegrass or ryegrass, for example. If you live in a climate where warm-season grasses thrive, we recommend that you aerate in the spring. Here in Eastlake, it is common to see Kentucky bluegrass, and although it is suggested your lawn receives aeration in the fall, it’s never a bad idea to have it done in the spring. Many experts recommend aerating your lawn every 1 to 3 years, but high-traffic areas may require more frequent attention. Learn more about aerating here.

Remove Excess Thatch

Thatch is the decaying plant material that accumulates on your lawn. A thatch layer exceeding a half-inch can block sunlight from grass and prevent water from reaching deep roots. Of course, you can remove thatch in the autumn by raking it up while you’re raking leaves, but we also recommend raking it up again in the spring to prepare your yard for summer. Removing excess thatch should be done in conjunction with aeration.

Fertilize Your Grass

How you should fertilize your yard will all depend on what type of grass you have. A nitrogen-rich fertilizer should be spread in the spring for warm-season grasses at the first signs of vibrancy. You can fertilize again in late summer. A cool-season grass, like Kentucky bluegrass, will require a little more attention and will need fertilization during early spring after the winter dormancy period and again during early fall. We use a fertilizer with higher nitrogen concentrations during the fall application. Learn more about our lawn care here.

Water Your Lawn

When watering your lawn in preparation for summer, you’ll need to keep the roots in mind because when we say you need to water your lawn, we really mean water your lawn. Most grasses will need around 1 inch of irrigation every week during their peak growing seasons. One thorough watering is preferable. This is a lot more efficient than frequent, short waterings because the water won’t properly reach the roots. It gets hot here in Eastlake, and having that thorough irrigation will help the grass retain its moisture. For best results, we recommend watering your lawn during the early morning or at night so that the grass has more time to absorb the water before it dries out.

Keep Your Grass Mowed

A systematic approach to mowing is crucial to the overall health of your lawn. Keep the following best practices in mind when cutting your grass:

Mowing Rules of Thumb

  • Never cut more than one-third of the grass’s height during each mowing, as any more can cause damage to the grass or cause the grass to dry out.
  • Frequent springtime mowing helps strengthen roots, making your grass stronger. Mowing at least once a week should suffice.
  • Raise the cutting height of your lawnmower as the summer months approach. Longer grass shades the soil better, keeping it moist and promoting healthy grass.
  • Reseed bare patches before your grass type’s peak growing season if you can. Use a standard fertilizer in conjunction with the overseeding and water the area as you normally would. Try adding nitrogen-rich fertilizer after the seeds have germinated to ensure robust growth.

Don’t have the time or resources to do this by yourself? No problem! That’s why the experts here at Lawn Control Center are available to provide these lawn services. We serve the Eastlake, Ohio area and provide fast, quality lawn care to homeowners and business owners alike. Call us and get an estimate today!